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Detectives in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, where Mrs Rathi and her husband ran one of India's most successful steel plants, said they had received anonymous calls shortly after her body was discovered in New Delhi last week to say the death was not suicide.

Mrs Rathi had travelled to Delhi to attend a religious ceremony for her late husband when his parents confiscated her property and claimed she had no right to it, police said.

She was later reported missing and was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her home after taking sleeping pills.

Mr and Mrs Rathi had married 2004 after a three year relationship despite strong objections from his parents. As one of the wealthiest and prominent families of the Jat caste – a warrior clan of peasant origins which has become rich and influential in modern India – they believed their son was too good for Mrs Rathi.

After Mr Rathi died of a heart attack, his parents began a campaign of abuse and intimidation, Mrs Rathi told detectives.

"Ms Rathi had filed a dowry harassment complaint against her in-laws earlier this month. She had accused them of mentally torturing her and passing casuist remarks," said police spokesman Abid Khan.

"We had sent a team to Delhi to arrest the accused named in the compliant but they have acquired anticipatory bail. We will be following the legal procedure," he added.

Women's rights campaigners said her death highlighted the "sad reality" for many women in India, that career accomplishments or physical beauty cannot overcome caste prejudice.

"There is superiority and inferiority, even if a woman is beautiful or successful, if she comes from a low caste, that determines her status," said Ranjana Kumari of the Centre for Social Research.